Improvement in shipwrights  clamp



dimitri tapes anni tjijire,

Letters .Patent No. 98,295', dated December 28, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIPWRIG-HTS CLAMP.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent ana making part of the same4 To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PHILLIPS, of- Bridgetown, in the county of Cumberland, andv State of New Jersey, have invented a new and improved Screw-Clamp for Shipwrights; and I do hereby declare that the following lis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable `others skilled in the ait to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of ille same, showing it arranged for operation between. thel timbers of a ves# sel.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective screw-clamp for sliipwrights7 use.

It is to be employed in the work of plauking the hulls of vessels, in which operation each successive plank must be forced down firmly against the upper edge of the preceding ones, before it is fastened with tree-nails, bolts, or spikes.

This forcing together of the planks requires an apparatus capable of developing great power, l,owing to theedgewise curve or sui-ge, so called, which the form ot' the hull requires of the planks, and many tools have been devised for this purpose. These tools, however, consisted of clamp-dogs and other rude devices, not capable of general application, or sniiici'ently effective for the purpose required.

My invention, however, is simple, effective, easily operated, and generally applicable to settingon planks in any part of the hull proper where needed,

By reference to the drawings, it will be seen to consist of a screw-dog, I, working iu a nut-block, G, which latter is provided with a hollow or recessed extension, E, forming part ot' the nut-block, and a lateral boss or stud, b, also .forming part of the said nut-block. l'

0u this stud b, a curved brace-claw, H, is pivoted.

This lbrace-claw is formed with a number'of large serratures or teeth, e, extending from end to end along the under side of the brace-claw, as shown.

The brace-claw is not pivoted on the stud b at the middle point of the former, but one ofthe arms, from its pivot-centre, is unich longer than the other, iu order to obtain the requisite purchase in jamming the brace-claw crosswise between .the two adjacent timbers of the vessel, where the apparatus is located, and this jamming of the brace-claw` is the device which affords the requisite resistance to the -action of the screw-dog I, in forcing down the plank.

In Figure 2 my in vention is shown in operation.

A A are any two of the timbers or ribs of the hull being planked. f B .is the plank being forced down upon the pre1 viously-fastened plank, C;

The brace-claw H, being somewhat longer than the greatest distance between the .timbers of vessels, (which Ais scarcely ever more than twelve inches,) is capable of being jammed or lodged in a somewhat diagonal position between the two timbers, as shown, and as the pressure is increased against it, by extending the screw-dog downward against the plank B, the brace-claw becomes more and more fixed in its lodged or jammed condition, by one or more of the teeth, at or near each end, becoming further im- K- bedded in the timbers, whereby, as the pressure upon the plank is developed byl turning the screw-dog, the brace.- claw is actuated to oder more resistance .to the former, and the proper continuation of this force and resistance accomplishes the complete forcing down of the plank into` close contact with its fellow.

rIhe screw-dog I is formed with a square part, f, or other equivalent form, to enable a iirm hold to behad thereon with a wrench, J, or other proper tool. f

rIhe lower end of the screw-dog is also providedwith a swivel-claw, c, working loosely thereon, which, while impinging against the edge of the plank, affords a bearing for the screw-dog.

The extension E is for the purpose of steadying the whole apparatus. l' y This is accomplished by resting it against a strip the said parts jammed as effectively therein as in the case shown.

(Z is anut to keep the brace-claw in the stud I).

rlhe extension E may be a hollow tube or a single part; but I prefer the double or recessed part, as shown.

It will be seen that the teeth on the short arnr of the brace-claw extend around up tothe upper. side.

This arrangement enables at least some one of the teeth to take ou the timber at the derent angles at which it may he used.

The next adjacent teeth", at the other end of the brace, are for'the same purpose.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The implement herein described, consisting of the screw I, nut-block G, recessed extension E. stud b, and curved serrated brace-claw H, each constructed and arranged in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

i WM. H. PHILLIPS. Witn esses LEHMAN BL'EW, JAMES P. PHILLIPS. 

